Chapter 10

"Only six sets were collected, as some of the herbs are too rare. I almost scoured the entire Alchemist Guild and could only gather six sets!"

"Six sets? Alright, give them to me first."

With the Five-Colored Sky Stone, his confidence in breaking through his meridians was almost 100%. Feeling much better, he pointed at Han Bo and Chen Zhen, who were still lying on the ground, and said, "Treat them first."

Jia Rong handed over a storage bag, but his expression changed, and he angrily said, "What do you take me for! You can't just command me around like this!"

Li Yunxiao glared at him coldly, "If you don't like it, get lost!"

Jia Rong was so angry that his scalp tingled. How could he, with his noble status, be ordered around by a mere child? But under someone else's roof, he had to bow his head, especially when it concerned his life and future. He bent down, examined the two men's injuries, and took out two light yellow pills from his ring, placing one in each of their mouths.

"Alright, now tell me the method to detoxify! I've done everything you asked, don't think I'll listen to you again!"

Li Yunxiao narrowed his eyes, looking harmless, "Many people would be overjoyed to be commanded by me. I bet you'll soon be begging to listen to me."

Jia Rong's face changed drastically, and he angrily said, "You're trying to cheat me!"

Li Yunxiao snorted, "Who do you think I am, to cheat a mere S-rank alchemist!" He waved his hand, and a piece of paper shot through the air.

Jia Rong was speechless, what did he mean by "mere S-rank alchemist"! Any alchemist was an incredibly noble and influential existence!

He caught the paper with two fingers, his face darkening. The force on the paper was stronger than he expected. His face turned grim as he read it, and he immediately showed a look of wild joy, quickly putting it away! With his knowledge, although he couldn't be 100% sure, he could roughly determine that Li Yunxiao hadn't lied to him.

"I've taken the item, we're even now!" Jia Rong turned to leave. This boy was too strange, and he couldn't see through him at all. He originally wanted to avenge his humiliation, but a sense of fear made him think it was better to avoid trouble. His life and future were the most important.

"This formula can detoxify the Yin Wind Stone and Blood Flame Orchid in your body, and leave no aftereffects," Li Yunxiao said slowly. "But during the time you were corroded, didn't you feel that your soul power was weakening each time you practiced alchemy? It seemed to be regressing?"

Jia Rong's body stiffened instantly.

"Ha, the recovery speed of an alchemist's soul power is at least ten times slower than a martial artist's essence. But the regression of soul power, to recover, is a hundred times slower than normal cultivation. Although you were corroded for a short time, with your talent, it will take at least twenty to thirty years to return to your original level. And the hope of advancing to the next level of alchemist is slim. Ha, I won't discourage you, but with good luck, you might have a chance within fifty years."

Jia Rong's face turned extremely ugly. How could he not know these things? The reason alchemists had such high status was because cultivating soul power was extremely difficult, and once it regressed, it was almost impossible to recover. He was already a gap away from becoming a first-level alchemist, and the next time he tried to advance, it would be at least fifty years, and that was with good luck. If his luck was bad, he might be a senior alchemy apprentice for the rest of his life.

"What do you mean by this?"

"Ha, nothing much. I just happen to know a method that can make you a true S-rank alchemist in fifty days."

"Fifty days?!"

Jia Rong felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his eyes wide open, "How is that possible? You're lying to me!" Even if his soul power hadn't regressed, he had no confidence in advancing to S-rank alchemist in fifty days, which was why he had taken the risk with the Yin Wind Stone!

Li Yunxiao's face darkened, and he sneered, "What are you, worth me lying to?"

Jia Rong was stunned, unable to move. He doubted Li Yunxiao's words a thousand times, but the huge temptation of becoming an alchemist made him unable to give up. He immediately softened, "I'm sorry, I was just too shocked. Do you really have the confidence to restore my soul power in fifty days?"

Li Yunxiao raised his index finger and shook it, snorting, "Not just restore your soul power, but make you a true S-rank alchemist. I could actually make you advance in five days, but you're not worth such cultivation."

Jia Rong swallowed hard, "What do you want in return?"

Li Yunxiao's eyes turned cold, and he said word by word, "Be my servant!"

"Impossible!"

Jia Rong's pupils contracted, his face changing drastically, and he angrily said, "You, a mere child, want to make an alchemist your servant! Too arrogant!"

Li Yunxiao sat quietly on the wooden chair, a natural aura emanating from him. His eyes flashed with a mocking look, and he said coldly, "If I had enough strength now, do you think you'd be worthy of being my servant? Even so, you only have the qualifications to be my servant for fifty days, and after that, get lost!"

Jia Rong was stunned, his mind blank. Li Yunxiao's words made his head numb, but he showed no anger. Because the unhidden mockery and condescension in the other's eyes were not feigned, but natural, as if it were a fact that he wasn't worthy of being a servant, and it was self-evident.

Heaven, what's going on?!

Who is this kid? A madman? But how could a madman see through my problem at a glance and have a solution? I've searched through all the alchemist guild's records and found no solution.

Li Yunxiao's calm voice came, "Do you feel wronged being my servant?"

Of course, he felt wronged! Jia Rong cursed inwardly. Suddenly, Li Yunxiao's eyes flashed, and a strange golden light appeared for a moment.

In that instant, Jia Rong's pupils dilated, and a huge sense of fear swept through his body, a trembling from the depths of his soul, as if it were innate, a natural reverence and trembling for a deity!

"Bang!"

He could no longer stand, and his legs knelt on the stone floor, drenched in cold sweat. The pressure on his soul made him dare not even lift his head!

"What's happening? What's going on? How can a child have such powerful soul pressure? Who is he?!"

Jia Rong was completely stunned, not just stunned, but deeply afraid. The contempt and pressure on his soul made him feel that if the other person moved a thought, his soul would be destroyed. It was like a high-ranking martial artist who could kill a martial apprentice with a finger.

"Do you wish to or not? You have three breaths to decide."

Wish to or not?

If you accept, you might soar to the top!

If you miss it, you might regret it for life!

"I... I wish!" Jia Rong clenched his teeth, using all his strength to say these few words. But once he spoke, he felt a sudden relief, his whole body drained, and he collapsed on the ground.

But his heart felt incredibly comfortable, as if he had accomplished a great task. This made him extremely shocked.

A smile flashed in Li Yunxiao's eyes, "Not bad, quite decisive. You'll soon realize how lucky you are today. Since you've recognized me as your master, I won't treat you unfairly." He flicked his finger, and a formula shot out, "Cultivate according to this method. If you can't advance to S-rank alchemist in five days, it proves you have low talent and aren't worthy of being my servant. You won't need to see me again."

Jia Rong's eyes were full of shock as he took the formula and looked at it. Instantly, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning and screamed, "Soul Refinement Technique!"

Li Yunxiao snorted, "It's just the most basic soul refinement technique, but it's enough to fully recover you and advance you to S-rank alchemist in five days."

The formula seemed to have infinite magic, and Jia Rong's body trembled uncontrollably. His previously withered body seemed to be reinvigorated, his eyes full of excitement, "Soul Refinement Technique, it's actually the Soul Refinement Technique! Master... Master... Master, is this real?"

He struggled to call out "Master," feeling deeply humiliated and angry just moments ago, but now all those feelings were gone, replaced by overwhelming excitement.

Li Yunxiao frowned, "Just call me Young Master Yun. This is just the most basic soul refinement technique. If you perform well, I won't be stingy with rewards. Go back, and if I need you, I'll have you come to the Alchemist Guild."

"Yes, Young Master Yun!"

Jia Rong trembled as he took out a delicate jade box, put the formula inside, and carefully stored it in his storage ring. He bowed to Li Yunxiao and left.

The most important part of an alchemist's cultivation is nurturing soul power. But the only way for ordinary alchemists to enhance their soul power is through continuous alchemy, which increases very slowly.

It was said that in the path of alchemy, there were methods to directly refine soul power, but these methods were only mentioned in fragments in some ancient texts, and whether they truly existed was a mystery. Jia Rong never imagined that he would one day actually obtain such a legendary item. As soon as he left the academy, he felt the world was bright and clear, his mood incredibly joyful and excited.

"Who is this Young Master Yun? The soul capture technique he used just now is said to be legendary, and he actually mastered such a secret technique!"

Jia Rong, being an alchemist, immediately understood the source of the trembling he felt. Otherwise, a mere child could never have such terrifying soul pressure.

"And the Soul Refinement Technique, such a valuable item, he gave it away like it was a street vendor's goods. Even the royal family of the entire Tian Shui Kingdom wouldn't be so generous! No matter what, to obtain the Soul Refinement Technique, even if I serve him for a few years, it's worth it!"

He began to feel extremely balanced, even thinking he had made a great deal. The value of this item was immeasurable. If others found out, he might be in mortal danger. Therefore, he carefully hid it and hurried to the Alchemist Tower.